Fraternity and Sorority Arms, Seals, Flags and other Insignia

[AZTheta]

MysticCat, you in Big Trouble now. New obsession kindled: COA for fraternities and sororities. Of course nothing will replace the quest for opal badges, but this is definitely a new interest.

@Leslie Anne, if not a dagger, then poison? I spy a skull & crossbones on the KD COA. Man, you guys do not mess around!

I might start an excel sheet or something of the sort that lists the symbols that are shared (eg flowers/stars/hands clasped/griffons etc). Note the use of MIGHT.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

I might start an excel sheet or something of the sort that lists the symbols that are shared (eg flowers/stars/hands clasped/griffons etc). Note the use of MIGHT.

Yeah, I've been saying that "might" for months now.

[AlphaFrog]

I have a pewter COA lavalier (it has letters on the reverse side) that I wear every day. It's generally only other Greeks who notice it and/or know what it is.

[WhiteDaisy128]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Yeah, I've been saying that "might" for months now.

You could make a google excel document and then "share" the editing privileges...then everyone could add their own symbols to the tally.

[Gusteau]

This thread makes me all...


Anyway, this thread combines two things I'm passionate about - heraldry and Greek History! So I'm going to warn you in advance that these posts will be lengthy, but hopefully fun and informative. Since I have, ahem, a lot to say I'm going to separate this into two posts, Delta Chi pre Coat of Arms and The Evolution of Delta Chi's Arms.

Delta Chi did not have a Coat of Arms until 1899. Before that we used the Emblem as a visual representation of the Fraternity. The Emblem was drawn by Founder Peter Schermerhorn Johnson to be used in the 1891 Cornellian. It represents the Hand of Humanity reaching for the Key of Knowledge.

Johnson wrote the following poem when he designed the Emblem:

In the city of Grenada, In that quaint old Moorish town, Where Alhambra's noble palace, From the lofty height looks down; O'er the portal to the courtyard, Where each passerby may see: Graved by subtle Moorish sculptor, Are the mystic hand and key. On that symbol rests a legend, Brought from far Araby's sands, By the Saracenic warriors. When they conquered Gothic lands: And the meaning of that emblem. As has oft been told to me: Is that wisdom's rarest treasures, Fill the hand that grasps the key. We have placed that ancient emblem on the banner that we love. Golden key of golden promise, with the open hand above: Aid our Maters' strength, my brother, that our own fraternity: In the coming years yet distant, have the hand that grasps the key.


The Emblem is worn on a medallion by past and present international officers and members of the Order of the White Carnation. As an Associate Member I remember being so mystified by the Emblem, and I still think of it as a special part of our history.


This design was used on early charters. It has the interlocking letters on a shield with an owl, laurel leaves, and the lamp of knowledge, which has been Delta Chi's symbol for Education since 1890.

[Scully]

The crest of AEPhi. The three columns Α, Ε & Φ stand for faculty approval, student esteem, and sorority fidelity. It also incorporates our motto: Multa Corda, Una Causa (Many Hearts, One Purpose).

[MysticCat]

Our Tenth National Convention in 1910 (Ithaca, NY) was a big event for us symbol-wise. That convention standardized the form of our badge, after a decade of a variety of styles. It added gold to red and black as an official color. It adopted the design of our shingle, which is still in use. And it adopted our coat of arms and our flag.

As a little background, it's worth remembering that in 1910, our name was Sinfonia Fraternity (formally, Sinfonia Fraternity of America). We were founded with that name in 1898, but the Greek letters ΦΜΑ were in use at the latest by April 1902. Some forms of our badge included the Greek letters, while others just had the Old English S. In 1908, the Constitution was amended to include the Greek letters, but the name was not legally changed until 1947.

This is our coat of arms:



As you can see, the design from the center of the badge is the centerpiece of the design. The arms appear on the shingle adopted in 1910 (this one is blank, lacking the name and chapter of the member, the chapter president's signature and the seal):



The arms also appear on the official flag:



(Not a great picture; the yellow should be gold and the red should be a little darker, but it shows what the flag looks like.) The flag is usually seen in the form of a banner that hangs from the top and has gold fringe on the bottom and sides. If on a pole, there is no fringe.

A variant of the coat of arms has been seen over the years (although it seems more rare these days), that includes the words "Phi Mu Alpha" on top, but this alternate design has never had official sanction:



[ETA: Readers may notice that other aspects of this design look different, including the jewels on the badge. In this post down thread, I explain the restoration of the original form of the coat of arms in late 2011.)]

One particular design predates the coat of arms. The Second Convention (1902) adopted this design for chapter charters:



It was in use until sometime in the 1930s. Look carefully and you'll see the letters ΦΜΑ on the small seal that hangs from the book. You can also see the harp and pan pipes that would later appear on the coat of arms. In recent years, the store at our national HQ has offered a number of items, including tee shirts, that incorporate this old logo. I have a computer mousepad with this design on it.

I couldn't find a picture of our seal. It dates from the early 1900s, and is simple in design. It is circular with the words "SINFONIA FRATERNITY OF AMERICA" around the circumference. The letters ΦΜΑ are in the center. Above the letters is "FOUNDED 1898," and below them is "INCORPORATED 1904." Originally, the seal said "FOUNDED 1901," perhaps because that was the year of our first National Convention. When that seal broke and had to be replaced, it was replaced with one that (correctly) noted the founding year as 1898.

Enough for now, I guess.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

MysticCat, you in Big Trouble now. New obsession kindled: COA for fraternities and sororities. Of course nothing will replace the quest for opal badges, but this is definitely a new interest.

@Leslie Anne, if not a dagger, then poison? I spy a skull & crossbones on the KD COA. Man, you guys do not mess around!

I might start an excel sheet or something of the sort that lists the symbols that are shared (eg flowers/stars/hands clasped/griffons etc). Note the use of MIGHT.

For figuring out aspects, I suggest the way that the US Patent and Trademark Office does it. Go to http://tess2.uspto.gov/ , search for the name of your GLO in quotes and click search. Find the entry for your GLO that contains your Coat of Arms and then look at the section called Design Search Code. For example for Alpha Phi Omega, the entry contains

01.01.06 - Stars with rays or radiating lines
01.01.13 - Stars - multiple stars with five points
01.15.18 - More than one drop including teardrops or raindrops; multiple drops (rain, tear, etc.); Raindrops (more than a single drop); Teardrops (more than a single drop)
05.05.03 - Fleur-de-lis
13.01.02 - Blow torch; Propane torches; Torches; Welding torch
23.01.01 - Epees; Foils; Rapiers; Sabers; Swords
23.05.01 - Helmets, armor
24.01.02 - Shields or crests with figurative elements contained therein or superimposed thereon
24.01.05 - More than one shield or crest; Shields or crests (more than one)
24.09.07 - Advertising, banners; Banners
24.13.02 - Cross, Greek (equal sides); Greek cross (equal sized lines)
25.01.25 - Borders, ornamental; Other framework and ornamental borders

[TSteven]

"Much of Sigma Chi's heraldry is inspired by the legendary story of the Emperor Constantine from the Battle of Milvian Bridge against Maxentius. Notably, the White Cross and the motto "In Hoc Signo Vinces" are evidence of the Constantine link. Although many of the symbols of Sigma Chi relate to Christianity, Sigma Chi is not a religious or Christian fraternity." -- The Norman Shield [Reference manual (pledge book) of the Fraternity]




The Crest - The Crest is a Norman Shield of blue bearing a white Sigma Chi cross, the shield being surmounted by a scroll and a crest of an eagle's head holding a key. The public motto, "In Hoc Signo Vinces" is placed below the shield on a scroll. The meaning of the motto is, "In this sign you will conquer." It is pronounced: "in hoke sig'no win'case."




The Flag - The flag is rectangular, the length being one and one-half times the width, the upper half being blue, the lower half being old gold, with a white Sigma Chi cross standing upright in the center and parallel to the lesser sides.




The Seal - The Fraternity seal is circular. Around the top of the outer edge is the name Sigma Chi Fraternity, and at the bottom are the numbers 1855. The central portion contains seven stars and a seven-branched candlestick.




During my search for pictures, I found this and thought it was nice to see how the various symbols are used on each.

[jennyj87]

I love our coat of arms. Its our colors (silver, gold, blue and the combination of green), our motto on the bottom meaning "let us steadfastly love one another".

In tri delta we have three stages of membership: new member (where you are a pearl), college (a pine tree) and an alum ( a pansy). I love how our crest has three of the stages.

Looking at the other crests I think its kind of different that on our crest we don't have our letters on it at all.


Our flag is the combo of all our colors, the pinetree, then three stars which have to do with the night we were founded.

I wish we used our flag more. I can't even find a place to purchase it.